IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


I^|2j8    12.5 
|5o   *'^™     IM^H 

■^  Kii    12.2 
11^    111112.0 


6" 


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9 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


as  WEST  MAIN  STRHT 

WEBSTER  N.Y.  14580 

.-rti)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


Th« 

totr 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliograpfiically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  imsges  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  siginificantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


D 


Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 


I I   Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^ 

Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couvi 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


I I    Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couieur 


□    Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmies. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-6tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


r~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couieur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  dicolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


I — I    Pages  damaged/ 

I — I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~l,/Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


The 

pOM 
OftI 

filml 


Orig 
bagi 
the 
•ion 

Oth4 

first 
•Ion 
oril 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 

Q.  "^howthrough/ 
Transparence 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


,.;» 


The 

•hal 
TINi 
whi 

Mai 
diffi 
•nti 
bag 
righ 
reqi 
met 


D 

D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  fapcn  6 
obtenir  ia  meilleure  image  possible. 


r^^^T-^dditional  comments:/ 

I I    Commentaires  suppi6mentaires: 


Wrinkled  pages  may  film  slightly  out  of  focus. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

UK 

m 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ils 

u 

lifier 

ne 

age 


Th«  copy  ffilm«ci  hare  has  bean  raproducod  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Univeriity  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  iagibiiity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ications. 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grica  i  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  «tA  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


u< 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  Illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprimia  sont  filmAs  an  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  paga  qui  comporta  una  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  an  commenpant  par  la 
pramiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »*  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film*  6  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  m6thode. 


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The  Equity  of  God's  Dealings  with  Nations* 


SERMON. 

PREACHED 

IN  SALEM,  JULY  23,  1811, 


»*:• 
^^0* 


\^ 


A  DAY  oir 

Fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer 


in 


# 


MASSACHUSETTS, 


OCCASIONED   BY   TMB 


DECLARATION  OF  WAR  AGAINST  GREAT' 

BRITAIN 


H*' 


By  brown  EMERSON, 

COLLEAOVB  PASTOR  OF  THE  THIRD  CHU&CH  IN  SAbEKf^ 


% 


SALEM: 

tRlNTSD   BY   JOSHUA    CVSHlNOt 


# 


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'  '    .  .^y,--  ■■   5.- 


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}. 


'.■      ■'>» 


SERMON. 


f     .1' 


Jeremiah  xviii.  7,  8,  9,  10.  • 

y#/  what  truant  I  Jhall  /peak  concerning  a  nation,  and 
concerning  a  kingdom,  to  pluck  tip,  and  to  full  down, 
and  to  deftrx^y  it ;  if  that  nation  againft  wnom  I  have 
pronounced,  turn  from  their  evil,  I  will  repent  of  the 
fvil  that  I  thought  to  do  unto  them.  And  at  what 
infant  I  Jhall  fpeak  concerning  a  nation,  and  concern' 
ing  a  kingdom,  to  build  up  and  to  plant  it ;  if  it  do 
evil  in  myjight,  that  it  obey  not  my  voice,  then  I  will 
repent  of  the  good  ^/herewith  If  aid  1  would  benefit 
them.  . 

God  is  a  mighty  fovereign,  doing  his  pleafure  in 
the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth.  He  changeth  the  times  and  the  feafons  ;  he  re- 
moveth  kings,  andfetteth  up  kings,  and  none  can  deliver 
6ut  of  his  hand.  Nations  and  individuals  are  equally 
dependent  on  him  for  every  benefit.  But  both  na- 
tions and  individuals  are  apt  to  lofe  fight  of  their 
depen^nce,  and  truil  in  their  own  wifdom  and 
Jlrength. 


4 


The  p;overnors  of  nations  too  generally  conduct 
their  affairs  as  if  they  believed  there  were  no  being 
above  them,  from  whom  they  derive  their  authori- 
ty, and  to  whom  they  are  accountable  for  the  ufc 
they  make  of  it.  It  feems  to  be  thought,  that  juf* 
tice,  mercy,  and  the  fear  of  the  JLord,  are  incum- 
bent only  on  individuals^,  and  that  nations  may  dif- 
regard  the  law  of  Heaven,  and  commit  the  moft 
enormous  crimes,  with  impunity.  But  they  are  in 
the  hand  of  God  as  clay  in  the  hand  of  the  potter. 
Under  this  lignificant  metaphor  are  nations  repre- 
fented  in  the  context.  Jeremiah,  by  divine  com- 
mand, went  down  to  the  potter's  houfc,  and  behold 
he  ivrought  a  work  on  the  wheel.  And  the  vejfel  that  he 
made  of  clay  was  marred  in  the  hand  of  the  potter  :  fo 
he  made  another  veffel  as  feemed  good  to  the  potter  to 
make  it.  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  the  pron 
phet^fayin^^  0  houfe  of  ifrael,  cannot  I  do  with  you  as 
this  potter  ?  faith  the  Lord,  Behold,  as  the  clay  is  in  the 
potter's  hand,  fo  are  ye  in  mine  hand,  0  houfe  of  JfraeL 

The  language  and  fentiments  of  the  text  and  con- 
text are  equally  adapted  to  any  nation  or  kingdom 
under  heaven.  Notwithftanding  the  pride  of  haugh- 
ty kings,  and  the  boafted  ftrength  and  magnificence 
of  mighty  empires,  they  are  completely  fubjeft  to 
the  will  of  God.  He  can  raife  a  powerful  empire 
from  the  moft  contemptible  beginnings ;  or  fud- 
denly  reduce  it  to  utter  ruin.  "  As  the  fmalleft  mo- 
tion of  the  finger  fuffices  to  efFedl  any  change  upon 
the  potter's  clay ;  fo  the  fecret  volition  of  the  Al- 
mighty operates  with  irrefiftiblc  energy  through  the 
whole  creation." 

The  fovereignty  of  God  over  nations,  and  the 
^wful  quicknefs  with  which  he  can  reduce  and  de- 


h-- 

I 


l" 


ftroy  tlicm,  are  moft  affeftingly  exemplified  in  ma- 
ny inftances  on  facred  record.  The  drowning  of  the 
world,  the  burning  of  four  kingdoms  in  one  morn- 
ing on  the  plains  of  Sodom,  the  overwhelming  of 
Pharaoh  and  his  hoft  in  the  Red  Sea,  and  the  de- 
llroying  of  the  vaft  army  of  Sennacherib  before  the 
walls  of  Jerufalem,  by  an  invifible  fword,  fhow  how 
completely  all  nations  are  in  the  hand  of  God,  how 
cafily  he  can  dafli  them  to  pieces  like  a  potter's  vef- 
fel,  and  how  dangerous  it  is  for  them  to  refufe  his 
warnings  and  refift  his  will. 

But  in  my  text  he  proclaims  his  mercy  toward 
penitent  nations,  as  well  as  his  juflice  toward  thofe 
that  are  wicked,  and  his  fovereignty  over  all. 
When  they  humbly  return  to  God,  from  whom 
they  have  revolted,  he  will  turn  from  his  wrath, 
and  avert  the  judgments  with  which  he  had  threa- 
tened to  fcourge  or  deftroy  them.  But  if  they  wax 
more  corrupt,  and  multiply  their  provocations  a- 
gainft  him,  he  will  withhold  the  benefits  which  he 
would  otherwife  have  given,  and  difplay  his  truth 
and  juftice  in  making  them  monuments  of  his  ven- 
geance. 

Such,  in  its  connexion,  is  the  import  of  the  paf- 
fage  which  is  to  guide  our  meditations  on  this  fo- 
lemn  occafion. 

It  will  be  attempted  to  fhow — 
I.  How  God  fpeaks  to  nations. 
II.  When  nations  refufe  to  obey  his  voice  ;   and 
when  they  turn  from  their  evil.         And, 

III.  That  God  deals  with  nations  according  to 
their  condud:  toward  him. 

I.  We  will    confider  how  God  fpeaks  to  na- 
tions. 


The  various  media,  through  which  he  diCpLxfs 
Hmfelf,  and  conveys  the  knowledge  of  hit  will  to 
men,  are,  in  fcripture,  called  his  voice.  They  convey 
ideas  to  our  minds,  as  certainly  as  words,  which  we 
hear  with  our  ears.  Hence,  not  only  the  written 
word  of  God  is  called  his  voice,  but  the  various 
works  of  his  hand  and  events  of  his  providence. 
The  Pfalmifb  accordingly  fays.  The  vsice  cfthe  Ltrd 
is  upon  the  wafers  ;  the  voice  of  the  Lord  is  potver^ 
ful,  and  divideth  the  flames  of  fire  ;  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  jhaketh  the  wildernefs.  By  the  prophet  Ifiiah 
the  judgments  of  God  are  exprefsly  called  his 
voice.  The  voice  of  the  Lord  rendereth  recompence  to 
bis  enemies,  Predidling  the  deftrudlion  of  Sennache- 
rib's army,  t)ie  fame  prophet,  in  his  eloquent  ftyle, 
fays.  The  Lordfhall  caufe  his  glorious  voice  to  behe^rd^ 
4tndjhall  Jhow  the  lighting  down  of  his  arm,  with  the 
indignation  of  his  anger,  and  through  the  voice  of  the 
Lordjhall  the  AJfyrian  be  beaten  down. 

God  fpeaks  to  nations  by  his  word  and  providence. 

He  fpeaks  to  them  by  his  word. 

In  ancient  times,  before  any  part  of  the  facred 
volume  was  written,  and  while  the  canon  of  fcrip- 
ture was  incomplete,  he  warned  and  inftru6ied  na- 
tions by  prophets,  whom  he  commiflioned,  in? 
fpired,  and  fent  forth  in  his  own  name,  as  fpecial 
meflengers,  to  declare  his  will.  But  the  period  of 
immediate  infpiration  has  long  (ince  dofed.  No 
new  revelation,  or  fpecial  commiifion  from  God,  is 
now  to  be  expefted.  And  fince  the  facred  canon  is 
complete,  no  fuch  communications  are  neceflary. 
The  difpenfation  under  which  we  live  is  diftinguim- 
ed  with  greater  privileges.  God  now  fpeak^  to  na- 
tions, as  well  as  individuals,  not  by  oral  meflages. 


7 


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but  by  his  written  word.  The  BiUe  is  the  voice  of 
Jehovah,  which  neither  a  nation  nor  a  perfon  can 
rejed  or  difobey,  but  at  infinite  hazard. 

The  moral  law,  as  revealed  in  the  Old  Teftament, 
and  more  amply  expounded  and  enforced  in  the 
New,  is  the  Handing  law  of  Jehovah's  empire ;  a 
law,  which  no  man,  or  body  of  men,  can  violate, 
without  incurring  its  tremendous  penalty  ;  a  penal- 
ty which  none  can  efcape,  without  the  protedion 
of  that  blood  which  faved  the  inhabitans  of  Goflien 
from  the  fword  of  the  deftroying  angel.  In  the 
fi9)le  the  path  is  plainly  drawn  for  kings  and  ma- 
giftrates  of  every  grade  and  defcription  ;  fo  that  he 
who  reads  may  run.  Their  duties  are  defined  by 
many  general  and  particular  precepts,  and  enforced 
by  the  moft  IHufhious  and  excellent  examples.  Ma- 
giftrates  and  nations  are  bound  to  make  the  Bible 
their  ilandard  of  principle  and  aftion  ;  and  every 
principle  they  embrace,  and  every  ad  they  do, 
which  is  repugnant  to  this  infpired  rule,  provokes 
the  Almighty,  and  expofes  them  to  his  wrath.  This 
proportion  is  fully  verified  by  his  treatment  of 
kings  and  nations,  as  well  as  by  his  wo^^d.  It  is  a 
truth,  indeed,  which  no  one  can  doubt,  who  has  juft 
conceptions  of  the  charader,  law  and  government 
of  God,  and  of  the  relations  that  fubfift  between 
him  and  his  creatures. 

It  is  to  be  further  remarked,  in  this  connexion, 
that  Crod  fpeaks  to  nations  by  the  faithful  mini/ira' 
turn  of  his  word.  The  gofpel  miniftry  is  divinely 
inftitutcd  J  and  gofpel  minifters  are  as  truly  the 
mtficngers  of  the  Lord  to  the  people,  as  the  ancient 
prophets  and  apoftles.  The  Bible  is  the  oracle  they 
are  to  cottfuh  j  and  when  they  fpeak  according  to 


' 


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I  'II 


this  word,  the  people  are  bound  to  regard  their  in' 
firu£lions  and  warnings,  as  clothed  with  divine  au" 
thority.  They  fpeak  in  the  name  of  Jehovah ;  and 
when  they  faithfully  deliver  the  meflages  of  his 
word,  they  may  enforce  them  on  rulers  and  people 
by  Thus  faith  the  Lordy  with  as  much  propriety  as 
Jeremiah  did,  v/ho /pake  as  he  was  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghojl,  And  when  the  rulers  and  people  of  a  nation 
refufe  and  contemn  the  warnings  and  in{lru6tions 
of  the  minifters  of  Chrift,  they  rebel  againft  the 
Lord,  and  will  as  inevitably  fall  under  his  righteous 
judgments,  as  thofe  ancient  nations  did,  which  re- 
jeded  the  warnings  of  his  prophets. 

Again.  God  fpeaks  to  nations  by  his  providence. 

When  he  gives  them  political  and  religious  prof- 
perity,  and  faves  them  from  his  judgments,  the  fadt 
proves  them  to  be  objeds  of  his  favor.  The  fear 
of  the  Lord  and  obedience  to  his  commands  do  evi- 
dently exift,  in  a  good  degree,  among  fuch  a  people. 
But  when  he  fends  them  tokens  of  his  difpleafure ; 
when  he  fuffers  the  body  politic  to  be  rent  limb 
from  limb  by  the  hatred  and  animoHty  of  a  fadious 
party  fpirit ;  when  he  permits  them  to  plunge  into 
war,  and  commillions  the  fword  to  devour ;  or 
viiits  them  with  famine,  peflilence,  earthquake,  or 
fire ;  thefe  judgments  are  ftrong  indications  of  his 
anger,  and  prove  that  the  people  have  abufed  their 
profperity,  and  awakened  his  wrath  by  their  crimes. 
Thefe  conclufions  are  drawn  from  the  character  of 
God ;  from  his  juftice,  truth,  goodnefs  and  mercy. 
For  while  his  goodnefs  and  mercy  forbid  that  he 
fhould  fcourge  and  afflid  a  penitent  and  virtuous 
people,  his  juftice  and  truth  require  him  to  execute 
his  thrcatcnings  on  incorrigible  tranfgrcffors. 


^ 


iir  in- 


He  not  only  Upe^  to  nations  by  his^  providenco 
toward*  thtm  in  particular,  but  by  hii>  dealings  witlt 
eeh«r  nations^  All  the  Judgments  that  ha<ve  over- 
taken the  kingdoms,  ftates  and  empires  of  the 
earth',  in  ages  pail,  lb  far  as  they  are  made  known* 
in  &cred  and  profane  hiftory,  are  fb  many  folemn 
warnings  to  nations  of  the  preTent  day.  In  ibch 
events  the  Moft  High  utters  his  voice  and  makes 
bare  his  arm  to  the  rukfrs  of  this  nation,  and  to  the 
peoplo,  who  err  from  his  ways. 

fi&nce  God  thus  ^caks  to  nations  by  his  word 
and  providence,  how  deeply  interefted  are  magis- 
trates and  Mje^s,  to  regard  his  voice,  and  not  re- 
jeA  his  counfel ! 

H.  k  is  to  be  fliown  when  nations  refufe  to  obey 
the  voice  of  the  Lord ;  and  when  they  turn  hoir; 
their  evil.  As  nationsd  fins  depend',  in  fome  mea- 
fure,  for  their  nature  and  magnitude,  upon  the 
ibrni'  of  government,  our  remarks,  under  this  head, 
win  be  confined  to  the  republican  fbrm^  which  is 
prefcribed  by  the  federal^  conftitution  of  the  United 
States.  In  deibotic  government?  &ch  as  prevail 
in  every  part  of  Europe,  and,  indeed^  in  every  part 
of  the  world,  with  the  exception  only  of  Great- 
Britain  and  this  nation,  the  people  are  mere  ilavea 
to  the  tyrant,  who  wields  an  iron  fceptre  over  their 
heads.  Every  ad,  in  fuch  governments^  is  confi- 
dicred  as  the  aid!  of  the  monarch. 

Here  I  cannot  but  aft  you  to  psufe  a  fingle  mo* 
tnent,  to  reAe^  on  this  adding  truth ;  that  in  no 
nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth  is  there  even  the 
Aadow  of  civil  liberty,  but  in  the  two  nations 
above  named  !  Evfry  other  nation  is  ruled  by 
ibme  imperious  defpot,  who  holds  their  deilinies  in 

9 


1 


*4# 


iiis  own  hand.  Whom  he  will  he  makes  poor,  a3i<! 
whom  he  will  he  makes  rich ;  whom  he  will  he  kills, 
and  whom  he  will  he  keeps  alive.  What  a  curfe 
from  God  is  a  cruel  defpotifm  !  And  yet,  melan- 
choly the  faft  !  we  arc  plunged  into  a  war  with  the 
only  nation,  except  our  own,  where  the  laft  fpark 
of  freedom  is  not  extinguifhed !  Yes ;  and  at  the 
critical  jun^ure,  too,  when  that  nation  is  ilruegling 
for  exigence  againft  the  horrid  grafp  of  the  atneifti- 
cal  defpot  of  continental  Europe !  Contemplated 
in  this  attitude,  the  cafe  prefents  an  alarming  and 
diilreiling  profpe^t.  Religion  and  freedom  are  in- 
volved in  this  controverfy.  I  tremble  for  my 
country ! 

But  I  am  not  now  to  difcufe  the  merits  of  the 
caufe ;  but  am  to  ihow  when  a  republic  refufes  to 
obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  and  when  it  turns 
from  its  evil. 

In  general  terms,  it  may  be  faid,  that  a  common- 
wealth, or  republican  nation,  refufes  to  obey  the 
voice  of  God,  when,  in  its  public  ads,  or  in  the 
exercife  of  its  conftitutional  powers,  it  violates  the 
law  of  God,  and  the  maxims  and  diredlions  of  his 
word.  In  fuch  a  government,  every  aft  is  proper- 
ly coniidered  as  the  aft  of  the  people ;  for  the  rulers 
are  men  of  their  own  choice. 

The  nation  difobeys  the  voice  of  the  Lord  in  the 
following  cafes.  Firft,  when  the  people,  in  eleftiug 
men  to  the  offices  of  government,  pay  no  regard  to 
the  caufe  of  religion.  Secondly,  when  rulers  are 
upheld  by  the  people  in  the  abufe  of  their  authori- 
ty. And  thirdly,  when  the  principles  and  manners 
oif  the  people  are  greatly  corrupted. 


ii 


^'  In  every  thing  they  do,  people  are  bound  to  have 
a  facred  regard  to  the  honor  of  God,  and  the  inte- 
reft  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  In  a  republic, 
the  political  fovereignty  is  in  the  people ;  and,  un- 
lefs  they  be  deceived  in  the  men  they  choofe  to 
rule  over  them,  they  are  refponfiblc  to  God  for  eve- 
ry unrighteous  ad  which  the  adminiftration  may 
do.  The  precepts,  feek  jirfi  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
his  righteoufnefsi  and,  tuhatfoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory 
of  Cod,  are  as  binding  on  the  people  in  the  exercife 
of  their  eledive  franchife,  as  in  any  other  acts  of 
their  lives.  They  ought  to  have  a  fteady  eye  upon 
the  general  caufe  of  truth  and  godlinefs.  Not  that 
I  would  advocate  a  religious  tejl ;  that  men  ihould 
be  of  a  particular  denomination  or  itdi  in  religion, 
in  order  to  be  eligible  to  a  civil  office.  By  no 
means.  Neither  civil  nor  religious  freedom,  nor  the 
honor  of  God,  nor  the  welfare  of  a  nation,  requires 
it.  But  all  thefe  do  plainly  require,  that  rulers 
fliould  be  good  men,  believers  of  the  truth,  fearers 
of  God,  haters  of  covetoufnefs  and  all  fin.  They 
are  faid  exprefsly  in  the  Bible  to  be  God's  minifters, 
ordained  by  his  appomtment,  and  invefted  by  him 
with  all  their  power.  He  has  ordained  them  for  a 
terror  to  evil  doers  and  a  praife  to  them  that  do 
well.  No  valid  reafon,  it  is  prefumed,  can  be  aflign- 
ed,  why  it  is  not  as  necefiary,  that  the  minifters  of 
God,  ordained  for  thefe  purpofes,  ihould  be  good 
men,  as  that  the  minifters  of  Chrift  ihould  be  fuch ; 
what  feme  boldly  affert  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
ftanding.  No  circumftance  appears  in  the  compa- 
rifon,  to  render  it  lefs  important,  that  civil  magif- 
trates,  efpecially  thofe  who  are  high  in  olficc, 
ihould  be  religious  men,  than  that  officers  of  the 


It 


ehrTUdsai  thaxA  (fliould  be  &ch  ;  ibr  «tiie  tnflutnce 
of  l3ie  former  is  as  great,  and  often  uracil  ;gpreatier« 
jthan  tliat  of  the  latter.  The  good  or  evil,  which 
one  man  of  high  rank  and  aiithortty  may  do  in  a 
nation,  in  regard  ^both  to  the  temporal  and  eternal 
intereft  of  men,  is  beyond  our  calculation.  If  you 
look  for  exampies  of  this  influence,  contrail  the 
biftory  of  David  and  Nefaemiah  on  one  hand,  witSi 
that  of  Jeroboam  and  Ahab  on  the  other.  It  is  a 
licentious  and  pernicious  dod^rine,  that  nd^onand 
civil  government  aee  fo  ceunpletely  feparate  in  dieir 
nature  and  de%n,  that,  in  dedtng  rvtlerg,  there  if 
fto  neoeflity  for  regarding  their  feliMous  charaiftcr* 
ITrue  religion  isttbe  only  thing  wmeh  iecuKcs  the 
£ivor  of  Grod ;  and  therefiore  it  is  the  only  penxHU 
sent  bafis  of  civil  government<  For  want  of  thin, 
the  governments  oi  the  world  have  been  perpetually 
fiu&uating,  and  thrones  and  kingdoms  have  beea 
deftroyed  in  fwift  fucceffion.  When  people,  there* 
fore,  in  eleding  their  rulers,  have  no  juft  regard  to 
the  caufe  of  religion,  they  furely  dio  evil  in  the 
iigfat  of  the  Lord,  and  refufe  to  obey  his  voice. 

Again.  This  guilt  is  upon  them,  m'hen  they  uf^ 
hdd  the  rulers  in  the  abufe  of  their  authority. 

Rulers  abufe  dieir  power,  when  they  enad  unjuft 
and  oppcefllve  laws,  and  caufe  them  to  be  executed 
In  a  cruel  and  arbitrary  manner;  when  they  fquander 
the  public  treafures  on  objeds  that  are  u£de&,  or  of 
little  worth,  to  the  community ;  when  they  plunge 
the  nation  into  bloody  and  deiolating  wars,  without 
the  moft  imperious  neceflity  on  the  ground  of  felf- 
defisnoe,  and  without  the  trial  of  every  other  reafon* 
able  meafure ;  when  they  employ  their  authority 
in  encouraging  and  promoting  evil  doers,  and  ia 


% 


:^ 


Id 


tndeavorft  to  diigrace  and  injure  them  that  do  well  $ 
and  when  they  beftow  what  is  in  their  gift,  to  ad* 
vance  and  eilablifli  the  inter^  of  a  party,  rather 
than  the  public  good.  In  fuch  ways  the  rulers  of 
the  people  may  ahufe  their  power ;  and  when  thfi 
people  uphold  and  encourage  them  in  fiich  ads  of 
jfijuftice,  fraud  and  of^reflion,  they  do  evil  in  the 
£ght  of  the  iiord,  and  refufe  to  obey  his  voice. 

Moreover.  This  is  the  melancholy  cafe,  when  the 
principles  and  manners  of  the  people  are  greatly  cor* 
rupted.  The  evils  above  defcribed  will  never,  indeed* 
exift,  without  an  extenfive  and  deij^nhle  4>read  of 
Ucentioufiiefs  in  principle  and  prance.  Sins  are  (0 
conne^^d,  that  one  leads  to  another.  Smaller 
crimes  lead  to  greater  ;  till,  at  loigth,  the  greateft 
enormities  are  multiplied  without  alarm  or  contrl" 
tion.  When  iniquity  abounds  and  triumphs,  as  at 
the  prefent  day,  the  voice  of  the  Lord  is  difreg^d- 
cd,  and  his  judgments  will  not  linger. 

If,  in  thele  ways,  a  people  refufe  to  obey  the  voioe 
of  the  Lord,  a  turning  from  their  evil  is  diredly  the 
revcrfe.  They  reverence  the  precepts  of  God'9 
word  as  the  rules  that  bind  them  in  aU  imaginable 
cafes ;  and  they  refpecb  the  appointed  mininratioa 
of  it,  as  a  voice  which  declares  his  will.  In  their 
choice  of  rulers,  they  will  have  an  undeviating  re- 
gard to  the  caufe  of  religion,  and  the  public  good. 
When  the  rulers  abufe  their  power,  they  will  with- 
draw their  fupport  and  confidence,  and  place  others 
in  th^'s  ftead,  who  will  be  more  faithful  to  their 
country  and  their  God.  And  the  people  wiH 
break  off  their  own  fins  by  righteoufneis,  and  peni* 
tently  return  unto  the  Lord.  Indeed,  repentance 
and  reformation  in  the  body  of  the  people,  are  the 


14 


ttnly  pledge  we  can  have  of  permanent  peace  an^ 
"profperity. 

If  the  parts  which  compofe  the  body  are  affed);* 
•ed  with  an  inveterate  difeafe,  the  whole  body  is 
difeafed,  and,  without  a  feafonable  and  fovereign 
remedy,  wiU  foon  become  a  lifelefs,  noifome  mafs, 
which  muft  be  removed  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
The  axe  muft  be  laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree,  in  or- 
der to  effeft  a  radical  removal  of  the  evil.  The 
people  muft  turn  from  their  evil  ways,  or  there  it 
no  folid  ground  of  hope.     I  proceed — 

III.  To  Ihow  that  God  deals  with  nations  ac<« 
^cording  to  their  condud  toward  him. 

In  the  government  of  the  world  he  is  pleaf^d  to 
prefcribe  rules  for  himfelf.  Should  ive  adopt  this 
Yule,  and  render  evil  for  evil,  we  fliould  ufurp  the 
prerogative  of  Jehovah.  Revenge  is  a  daring  inva. 
fiop  of  his  dominion  ;  a  prefumptuous  aflault;  upoii 
his  very  throne.  But  none  can  fuppofe,  that  the 
•conduo:  of  God,  in  rendering  to  his  creatures  ac- 
cording  to  their  works,  partakes  in  the  leaft  of  this 
•malignant  fpirit.  To  execute  judgment  on  the 
guilty  is  his  right,  as  the  fovereign  Ruler  and  Judge 
of  the  world.  He  is  a  God  of  adorable  mercy ; 
but  he  is  juft,  as  well  as  merciful.  If  men  rebel 
againft  him,  and  perfift  in  their  rebellion,  he  regards 
them  as  his  enemies,  and  fights  againft  them  with 
his  righteous  judgments.  If  they  repent  of  their 
fins,  humble  themfelves  before  him,  and  return  to 
their  duty,  he  gracioufly  receives  them,  pardons 
their  iniquity,  averts  the  threatened  judgments,  and 
fills  their  cup  with  good.  This  fentiment  is  moft 
-plainly  expreffed  in  the  text,  and  is  current  through 
the  fcripturcs. 


15 


AH  God's  promifes  of  good,  as  the  reward  o^ 
obedience,  are  pounded  on  the  condition,  that  the 
obedience  be  nithfuUy  rendered ;  and  there  is  al- 
ways a  referve  for  the  exercife  of  juftice,  in  cafe  o£ 
rebellion.    And  on  the  other  hand^  all  his  threa* 
tenings  of  evil,  is  the  recompence  of  difobedience* 
are  made  on  the  condition  of  perfeverance  in  re- 
bellion ;  and  there  is  always  a  referve  for  the  exer- 
cife of  mercy,  in  cafe  of  repentance  and  reformation* 
This  apparent  conditionaUty  does  not,  however, 
imply  any  uncertainty  in  the  mind  of  God,  in  re- 
gard to  future  events  ;  for,  declaring  the  end  from  the 
beginning,  he  is  in  one  mind,  and  none  can  turn  him* 
Neither  does  it  imply  any  uncertainty  in  thofe  pro- 
mifes of  the  covenant  of  grace,  which  are  yea  and 
amen  in  Chrift  Jefus,  and  are  confirmed  to  all  who 
are  united  to  him  through  faith  and  love,  by  the 
oath  of  the  unchangeable  God.    TheCe  remarks 
may  afford  fome  aid  in  explaining  what  is  to  be 
underflood  by  God's  repenting  of  promiied  good 
and  threatened  evil.    It  cannot  mean,  that  he  is 
fubjed  to  any  fuch  regret  and  forrow  as  we  feel, 
when  we  difcover  the  folly  or  finfulnefs  of  our 
condud  ;  nor  that  he  ads  contrary  to  what  he  has 
ordained   in    his   fecret    and  immutable    counfel* 
Either  fuppofition  is  totally  inconfiftent  with  the 
perfections  of  his  nature,  and  with  abundant  decla- 
rations of  his  word.    With  God  there  is  no  varia- 
blenefs,  neither  Jhadow  of  turning*    His  counfel  fhall 
Jland,  and  he  will  do  all  his  pleafure.     When  repen- 
tance is  a^'-nbed  to  him,  it  muft,  therefore,  iignify 
only  a  change  in  the  outward  adminiftrations  of  his 
providence,  conforming  them  to  the  characters  and 
actions  of  men.    This  is  called  repentance,  becaufe 


.1 


u 


!t  is  tndk  in  the  view  of  many  who  fee»  only  the? 
cmtward  appearance. 

That  God  deals  with  nations  accorcfing  to  their 
eonduft  toward  him,  is  evident,  not  only  from  the 
text,  but  irom  many  deelarations  $f  bis  wordy  and 
from  the  bijiory  of  his  providence. 

It  is  evident  from  many  declarations  of  his  word. 

With  the  merciful  thou  wiltfhow  thyfelf  mercifil^  witB 
the  ufright  thou  wiltfhow  thy fslf  upright  ^  with  the  pure 
thou  wiltfhow  thyfelf  pure^  and  with  thefroward  thou 
wiltfhow  thyfelf  ffoward.  This  is  equivalent  to  the 
words  oP  Oirift  in  the  feventh  chapter  of  Matthew  : 
With  what  judgment  ye  judge^  yefiall  be  judged  ;  and 
with  what  meafure  ye  mete,  it  fhall  be  meafured  to  ym 
again.  When  kin?  A(a  was  returning  in  triumph  to 
Jerufalem,  after  his  fignal  victory  over  the  vaft  Ethi- 
opian army,  Azariah  the  prophet  was  fenc  forth  to 
meet  him,  and  direAed  by  God  not  to  falute  him 
with  fulfome  adulation,  but  with  this  fblemn  mei^ 
frge :  Hear  me,  Afa,  and  all  Judah  and  Benjamin  ; 
the  Lord  is  with  you  while  ye  be  with  him  ;  and  ifyefeek 
him,  he  will  he  found  of  you  ;  hut  if  ye  forfake  him,  he 
will  forfake  you.  Admirable  addrefs  to  a  mighty 
conqueror  when  entering  his  capital  in  triumph  3 
Would  God  that  the  palaces  and  triumphal  arches 
of  all  the  potentates  of  the  earth  might  refound 
with  this  warning  voice.  Had  kings  and  emperors 
been  duly  impre£d  with  this  falutary  admonition, 
many  thrones,  which  are  levelled  with  the  dui^» 
would  have  flood  to  this  day. 

Without    multiplying  quotations    to    prove  a 

rsint  which  is  taught  throughout  the  facred  pages, 
proceed  to  obferve,  that  the  hijiory  of  Cod^s  prm» 


■as 


17 


"iience  verifies  the  propofition,  that  he  deals  with  na- 
tions according  to  their  condud;  toward  him. 

This  truth  is  fully  cxempliiled  in  the  hiftory  of 
the  Hebrew  nation.  God  fent  them  bleffings  or 
judgments  according  as  they  were  obedient  or  dif- 
obedient  to  his  word.  When  they  rebelled  againft 
him,  he  always  viiited  them  with  the  fword,  or 
fome  other  terrible  calamity,  which  was  not  remov- 
ed till  they  humbled  themfelves  under  his  mighty 
hand,  and  turned  from  their  evil  ways. 

The  fame  rule  of  equity  he  obferved  toward 
other  nations  of  old.  Why  did  he  caufe  the  fword 
to  devour  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Canaan,  and 
exterminate  from  the  earth  thofe  numerous  war- 
like kingdoms,  which  once  flouriihed  in  that  quar- 
ter of  the  globe  ?  Why  are  not  the  thrones  of  the 
Pharaohs  and  the  Csefars  (landing  at  this  day  ? 
Why  has  the  magnificence  of  Egypt,  Tyre,  Babylon 
and  Rome  been  fo  long  buried  in  utter  ruin  ?  Be- 
caufe  they  hearkened  not  to  the  warnings  of  the 
Lord's  prophets,  but  obftinately  perfifted  in  their 
own  wicked  devices.  It  uniformly  appears,  that 
divine  judgments  were  fent  upon  them  as  the  juft 
rccompence  of  their  iniquities.    '      * 

The  fame  procedure  is  yet  vifible  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God.  Nations  now  are  profpered  or 
punifhed,  according  as  they  pay  allegiance  to  God, 
or  rebel  againft  him.  He  may,  indeed,  grant  a  mer- 
ciful refpite,  and  endure  with  much  long  fuffering 
their  impious  provocations,  wihle  he  gently  cor- 
reds  them  and  multiplies  his  warnings :  but  if  they 
turn  not  from  their  evil,  he  will  whet  his  glittering 
fword,  and,  taking  hold  on  judgment,  will  render 
vengeance  to  his  enemies.    He  is,  at  this  day,  tak- 


/ 


18 


jng  vengeande  oh  the  nations  of  Europe,  l^ongdi'd 
he  reftrain  his  indignation  ;  but  at  length  he  has 
come  out  of  his  place,  decked  with  terrible  majcfty, 
trampling  them  in  his  fury,  and  vexing  them  in  his  fore 
difpleafure.  He  has  raifed  up  a  mighty  conqueror 
to  execute  his  wrath  upon  thofe  wicked  nations. 
Fear  and  difmay  go  before  him  ;  mifery  and  defola- 
tion  follow  after  him.  He  will  ga  on  and  profper, 
//■//  the  indignation  be  accomplifhed,  when,  for  his  enor- 
mous pride  and  wickednefs,  he  fhall  come  to  his  end^ 
and  none  fhall  help  him.  The  dire  convulfions,  which 
are  ihaking  the  kingdoms,  and  demolifhing  thofe 
thrones  which  have  long  been  fupported  by  iniqui- 
ty and  blood,  teach  us  what  a  people  have  reafon 
to  expeft  from  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  when  they 
caft  off  his  fear  an '  trample  his  laws  under  their 
feet.  Italy,  Germany,  Spain,  Portugal,  Switzer- 
land, Holland,  Denmark,  Sweden,  Pruffia,— ^-where 
are  they  ?  Some  of  them,  indeed,  have  a  name  to 
live  ;  but  tliey  are  dead ;  and  in  their  dying  pangs 
and  ftruggles,  they  have  left  ta  us  and  the  world  a 
moil  affeding  admonition,  not  to  contend  with  the 
Almighty. 

Nations,  as  fuch,  receive  the  recompence  of  their 
fins  m  temporal  judgments ;  becaufe,  in  the  eternal 
world,  there  will  be  no  national  exiftence — no  na» 
tions  to  punifii.  There,  every  one  muft  give  an  ac- 
count of  himfelf  to  God,  and  receive  an  eternal  re- 
tribution from  his  hand.  In  this  refped);,  the  fitua- 
tion  of  nations  and  individuals  is  widely  different. 
When  a  nation  is  deftroyed  for  its  corruption  and 
crimes,  it  ceafes  to  exiil ;  but  all  the  individual  iin- 
ners  of  that  nation,  whofe  iniquities  drew  down  de- 
ilru^ion  upon  the  public  body,  unlefs  brought  to 


19 


repentance  before  their  death,  experience,  as  indi- 
viduals, the  juft  vengeance  of  the  Almighty  upon 
their  fouls  for  ever. 

Againft  this  view  of  the  divine  providence,,  it 
may  be  ol^jeded,  that  the  moil  wicked  nations  are 
often  the  moft  powerful,  and  appear  the  moft  prof- 
perous  and  happy.  Such  an  impreflion  arifes  from 
a  fuperficial  view  of  the  ftate  of  fuch  nations. 
They,  indeed,  are  powerful,  and  make  a  fplendid 
and  dazzling  appearance.  But  the  appearance  is 
delufive.  Search  for  happinefs  in  fuch  a  kingdom 
or  empire,  and  you  fearch  in  vain.  It  is  furely  a 
ftranger  to  the  palace  of  the  monarch,  and  to  the 
field  of  battle.  Among  the  people  it  is  not  to  be 
found.  '  They  groan  under  the  iron  hand  of  a  mer- 
cilefs  defpot.  Freedom,  peace  and  fafety  have  fled 
from  their  borders.  Every  thing  valuable  in  hu- 
man fociety  is  facrificed  upon  the  bloody  altar  of 
lawlefs  ambition.  The  treafures  of  the  nation  are 
exhaufted,  its  families  are  diftrefled  and  torn  to 
pieces,  its  fons  are  dragged  from  their  homes,  and 
chained  to  the  car  of  the  tyrant,  to  fprcad  mifery, 
blood  and  ruin  wherever  his  power  can  reach.  Be- 
fides,  a  nation  of  this  character  is  permitted  to 
reach  a  proud  eminence  in  power  and  fplendor,  that 
it  may  experience  a  more  tremendous  downfal. 
Profperity  in  wickednefs  is  a  fure  indication  that 
God  has  forfaken  a  people,  and  that  they  are  filling 
up  the  meafure  of  their  iniquities,  and  ripening  for 
deftrudion.  When  their  meafure  is  full,  God  has 
the  inftruments  of  his  juftice  prepared  to,  execute 
his  threatenings  upon  them.  Before  the  arrival  of 
this  dreadful  hour,  they  muft  repent;  and  reform, 
or  fall  into  inevitable  perdition,      ..;  :jvi  t  ,h?w  ou 


fiO 


In  improving  the  fubjcck  of  this  difcourfe,  ac* 
cording  to  the  defign  of  our  affcmbling  to  day,  our 
attention  will  be  confined  to  the  two  following  in* 
ferences :  that  we  have  great  occqfion^  and  great  en- 
couragement,  for  humiliation,  failing  and  prayer. 

I, — If  we  review  and  apply  the  fubjeft,  we  find 
great  occafion  to  engage  in  the  duties  for  which  we 
confccrate  the  day. 

As  a  nation,  have  we  not  done  evil  in  the  fight 
of  the  Lord,  and  provoked  him  to  anger  by  refuung 
to  obey  his  voice  P  He  has  long  been  fpeaking  to 
us,  not  only  in  his  word,  and  in  his  dealings  with 
other  nations  ;  but  in  his  providence  toward  us  as 
a  people.  By  the  unexampled  profperity  and  long 
continued  peace,  which  we  have  heretofore  enjoy* 
cd,  he  fljowcd  that  he  delighted  in  us  to  do  us  good- 
But  how  ungratefully  have  we  abufed  his  blefftngs ! 
Hardened  by  profperity,  we  have  perverted  the 
richefft  favors  of  his  providence  as  occafions  of  fin. 

It  has  been  fliown,  that  a  free  people  refufe  to  obey 
the  voice  of  God,  when,  in  eledmg  men  to  fill  the  of- 
fices of  government,  they  pay  no  regard  to  the  caufe 
of  religion  ;  when  they  uphold  rulers  in  the  abufe 
of  their  power ;  and  when  the  principles  and  man- 
ners of  the  people  are  greatly  corrupted.  Now,  in 
exerclfing  the  right  of  election,  have  we  duly  re- 
garded the  honor  of  God,  and  the  caufe  of  truth 
and  righteoufnefs  ?  Have  we  not  forgotten  or  con- 
teiiined  fome  of  the  plaiiieft  precepts  of  God's 
tj^ord  ?  Inftead  of  tskiiig  fpecial  heed  to  ourfelves, 
that  We  chOofe  good  men,  who  fear  God  and  hate 
G^yvfetoufifiefs,  and  who  would  be  a  terror  to  evil 
do^rs  atid  a  praife  and  Encouragement  to  them  that 
do  well,  have  not  the  body  of  this  people  bcca  ac- 


M 


tuated  in  their  eIe£lions  by  prejudice  and  paifion  f 
I  only  afk,  and  leave  it  with  confcience  to  make  the 
application  and  give  the  anfwer. 

In  regard  to  upholding  rulers  in  the  abufe  of 
their  power,  can  we  Hand  in  the  prefence  of  God, 
and  plead  not  guilty?  Have  not  our  ftate  and 
federal  governments,  in  this  way,  refufed  to  obey 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  ?  Have  not  unjuft  and  op- 
preflive  laws  been  enacted,  and  fometimes  executed 
m  a  cruel  and  arbitrary  manner  f  Have  not  the 
public  treafures  been  fquandered  on  objeAs  that  are 
ufelefs,  or  worfc  than  ufelefs,  to  the  community  ? 
Have  none  of  our  chiefs  in  power  been  patrons  of 
evil  doers,  and  perfecutors  of  them  who  do  well  ? 
Does  it  uniformly  appear,  that  what  was  in  their 
gift  has  been  conferred  to  promote  the  public  good^ 
rather  than  to  eftablifh  the  intereft  of  a  party? 
Can  it  be  ihown,  that  the  difaflrous  war  into  which 
we  are  plunged  is  abfolutely  neceiTary  ?  Is  it  a  war 
of  fimple  fclf  defence  ?  Has  every  other  reafonable 
meafure  been  tried  in  vain,  for  the  prefervation  of 
liberty  and  peace  ?  In  relation  to  the  two  great 
belligerent  powers  of  Europe,  has  our  Executive 
purfued  a  courfe  of  Arid  neutrality  f  I  only  aik, 
and  leave  the  queftions  to  be  refolved  by  fads.  I 
have  always  difcarded  the  idea  of  making  the  pulpit 
a  place  for  mere  political  difcuilion. 

In  regard  to  the  corruption  of  principles  and 
manners  prevailing  among  the  people,  the  profped 
before  us  is  truly  alarming.  The  flood  of  Keen* 
tioufnefs,  which  has  deluged  Europe,  and  brought 
down  the  judgments  of  Heaven  upon  thofe  wicked 
nations,  has  fpread  into  our  land,  and  makes  a 
threatening  progrefs.    Impiety  and  crime  of  every 


I  ,1 


I 

•I 

''  I 


i 


22 


name  and  defcription  inarch  forth  in  defiance  of 
Cod  and  man.  Alas !  how  have  we  degenerated 
from  the  purity  of  our  fathers  !  Will  not  a  righ-^ 
te  )us  God  viftt  for  thefe  things,  and  will  not  his  foul  bs 
avenged  on  fuch  a  nation  as  this  ?  Yea,  judgment  has 
already  begun.  The  fword  is  commiflioned  to  de- 
vour. The  horrid  found  of  war  refounds  in  thefe 
long  peaceful  fliores.  God  is  angry,  and  is  viiiting 
us  with  the  moil  terrible  of  his  judgments.  Yes, 
of  all  thcjudgments  of  Heaven,  war  is  the  moft  ter- 
rible. Th'e  confuiion  and  mifery  it  occafions,  in 
every  grade  and  condition  of  fociety,  no  language 
can  exprefs.  No  calamity  is  attended  and  followed 
by  fuch  ruinous  and  awful  efieds.  It  impofes 
cxceflive  burdens  upon  innocent  people  ;  and 
the  tendency  it  lias  to  demoralize  fociety  exceeds 
our  conception.  It  turns  men  into  ferocious  beafts, 
that  feek  only  to  deftroy  each  other,  and  are  moft 
in  their  clement  amid  rapine  and  carnage.  It  ex- 
tinguiflies  the  laft  fpark  of  kindnefs  and  mercy  from 
the  human  breaft,  and  prepares  men  for  every  aft  of 
cruelty  and  oppreflion.  It  cuts  off  thoufands  in  a 
day  ;  and  oftep  hurries  ten  thouiand  fouls,  in  all 
their  unpardoned  guilt,  to  the  bar  of  God  and  the 
region  of  endlefs  defpair.  It  turns  that  into  an  oc- 
caiion  of  joy  and  triumpli,  which  ought  rather  to 
cover  us  with  fliame,  and  proflrate  us  in  the  duft  of 
repentance  and  humiliation.  O  the  fcourge  of  war ! 
It  is  Jehovah's  ftrange  work.  All  the  nations 
which  have  been  fwept  from  the  earth,  thofe  only 
excepted  that  periflied  in  the  waters  of  the  deluge 
and  the  flames  of  Sodom,  were  deftroy ed  by  the 
fword.  War  is  an  enemy  of  every  good  thing* 
Other  judgments  may  convince  and  reform  a  peo» 


25 


pie.  Famine,  peftilence,  earthquakes  and  fires,  may 
awaken  and  reclaim.  But  war  invariably  hardens 
and  depraves.  Religion  flies  before  it.  Defolation, 
mifery,  and  every  evil,  follow  in  its  train.  'J  he 
frogs  of  Egypt,  and  the  deftruc^ion  of  all  their  firft 
born,  were  light  calamities  compared  with  all  the 
horrid  confequences  of  a  long  and  bloody  war. 
May  God,  in  mercy,  avert  this  judgment.  Surely 
It  is  a  fore  calamity,  and  what  will  be  the  iflue  of 
this  conflid,  who  can  divine  ?  But  what  muft  be 
the  infatuation  of  a  people,  that  fhould  reach  out 
their  hands  and  pull  this  vengeance  down  upon 
their  own  heads !  that  fhould  unflop  the  vials  of 
divine  wrath,  and  draw  out  upon  themfelves  their 
hottefl  plagues  !     But  I  forbear. 

Have  we  not  reafon  to  fafl  and  pray,  and  humble 
ourfelves  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God  ?  It  is 
verily  a  day  of  darknefs  andofgloominefs^a  day  of  clouds 
and  of  thick  darknefs, 

2. — If  God  deals  with  nations  according  to  their 
conduct  toward  him,  and  repents  of  the  evil  he  has 
threatened  or  begun  to  inflid,  when  they  repent 
and  turn  from  their  evil,  then  we  have  great  en- 
couragement devoutly  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  in  the 
duties  of  this  day.  He  is  a  God  who  is  rich  in 
mercy.  He  delights  not  in  the  mifery  and  deflruc- 
tion  of  finful  men,  but  that  they  turn  and  live. 
Repentance  and  reformation  are  our  only  hope.  If 
our  fins  have  brought  this  and  all  our  calamities 
upon  us,  thofe  fins  mufl  be  lamented  and  forfaken, 
or  judgment  will  increafe.  And  how  wonderful  is 
the  mercy  of  God  in  promifing  to  receive,  pardon 
and  blefs  a  returning  people  or  individual,  after  all 
their  rebellions  againft  him  !    He  wiU  afiuredly  be 


t  ii 


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found  of  them  that  feek  him.  Let  us  not,  then, 
defpair,  but  hope  in  the  mercy  and  power  of  the 
Lord.  Who  knows  but  that,  in  anfwer  to  the 
humble  prayers  afcending  to  day,  in  this  Common- 
wealth and  two  of  our  fifter  States,  God  will  take 
away  the  terrible  judgment,  wh'ch  we  fear  and 
deprecate  ?  Let  us  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and  place 
9II  our  hope  anyi  expectation  in  him.  Wait  I  fay 
upon  the  Lord.  .^ 


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